Strip-till is everybody's favourite topic

Strip-till is still the innovation everybody's talking about forplant husbandry. The opportunities this process has to offer have not been exhausted by far. At the same time, the number of experiments looking for the system's strengths and weaknesses is sky-rocketing.

Nowadays it is no longer only winter caterpillars or sugar beets, that have been cultivated in strip-till for a long time. The big issue now is how slurry can be used more efficiently for corn for plants. This process offers any plant grower an astoundingly large range of factors impacting growth. However, they only condense the process to one or no more than two operations.

AGRAVIS crop cultivation consultation has gained lots of experience with cultures of maize, rapeseed and sugar beet with the strip-till method. It became clear that this method actually offers numerous innovative possibilities in crop cultivation, but on the other hand is not a general panacea. It cannot be used on all soils, in all cultures, under all conditions. Instead, it enhances the soil processing systems of ploughing and cultivating currently in use.

Looked at closer, the proportion of soil processing involving the strip-till method initially seems to be simple. A narrow tine is drawn as deep as possible through the topsoil. The roots can very quickly penetrate deeply into these loosened strips. The opened slit then has to be filled and compacted, because only then can good root growth occur. The form and weight of the tool play an important role here. This challenge still cannot be overcome in all soils. If the surface is too clayey and therefore cannot be turned, the possibilities for the strip-till method are limited. The two-phase method is more successful here in any case, first loosen and then drill a few days later. Strip-tilling offers great benefits in terms of water efficiency. Especially on light soils, the difference in evaporation between strip and area loosening is noticeable. The drawback is that the soil warms less in the spring. This is a problem on cold clayey locations.

There are a wide range of options with placed fertilisation.. For instance, you can vary the sedimentation depth of one or several strips of fertiliser. You also have the combination of organic and mineral nutrition carriers. That provides an excellent balance with the demands of the culture and the conditions of the location.

At the DLG Field Conferences, the AGRAVIS stand planted a crop of rape in mulch seed and strip-till. This demonstration was the occasion for AGRAVIS experts to discuss strip loosening and placed fertilisation in combination with state-of-the-art agricultural and steering technology with their visitors.

You can get detailed information on strip-tilling from AGRAVIS' plant cultivation advisor Arne Klages at +49+511-80750, +49+152 . 01810283 or arne.klages@agravis.de. Daniel Werner at +49+5551 . 600-837, 0173 . 695-5193 or daniel.werner@ agravis.de is the right contact for your questions at AGRAVIS Net.